(This invaluable game from the early years of the club is a great catch for the website and thanks to Walt for keeping his game scores and for capturing the feel of what the club was like in its early years. I, too, recall Ray fondly, and once while playing him at the Drury College library circa 1975, was up a Queen vs a Knight and two pawns and as is my tendencies managed to lose after Ray had offered a draw. Unfortunately, I did not keep the game score. Now, if we could only find a Ray Jones win!) You can view this game on the game viewer page or click here to view the game.
Walter Ressmeyer vs. Rev. Ray JonesSicilian Defence
The year ...1975, the place ...Meador Park, (the club being relocated there once again.) I still recall that smoke filled room where cigars, pipes, and cigarettes were the norm. Out of that tobacco haze emerged one Reverend Ray Jones! "Jones-y" had come to clean up this foul city, (or just clean up at the board?) A real character and nice fellow, this would be our first encounter. Although still in High School, I would be the one to take the good Reverend to school in this Sicilian. My bad opening moves actually begin to pay off in the middle-game. Both Ray, and the late Greg Williamson, always told me that they learned just how powerful white's bishops could be when placed on e2 and e3 as a result of this game.
Ressmeyer-JonesMay 31st 1975 60/2
1) e4 c5 2) Nf3 Nc6 3) d4 de 4) N:d4 d6 5) Nc3 Nf6 6) Be2 e6 7) 00 Be7 8) Be3 a6 9) f4 00 10) Bf3 Qc7 11) Qe1 Bd7 12) Qg3 Rc8/a 13) f5 Ne514) Bh6 Ne8 15) Bh5 Bf6 16) fe fe 17) B:e8 Qc5 18) Kh1 B:e8 19) R:f6 Bg6 20) R:f8 R:f8 21) N:e6 Qc4 22) N:f8 K:f8 23) Qf4+ Kg8 24) Rf1 Qc8 25) Nd5 Qe8 26) Bg5 Bf7 27) Nc7 Qc8 28) Nd5 Q:c2 29) Be7 Qc6 30) Bf6 Ng6 31) Ne7+ N:e7 32) B:e7 Qc4 33) Q:f7+ Q:f7 34) R:f7 K:f7 35) B:f6 1-0
Perhaps the good Rev. played on a little long, hoping for a miracle. I did give him that rook back at move #33 as a "Welcome to Springfield Gift". *Jones would later rule Springfield Chess
